Report: Bachmeier to enter transfer portal

Louisiana Tech starting quarterback Hank Bachmeier reportedly intends to enter the transfer portal, according to Matt Zenitz of 247Sports.

The transfer portal officially opens Monday, Dec. 4. LA Tech team officials could not be reached for comment Saturday afternoon.

Bachmeier, who transferred to to LA Tech from Boise State before the 2023 season, played in nine of the Bulldogs' 12 games this season and threw for 2,058 yards, 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Bachmeier's 67.7% completion percentage is the best by a Tech quarterback since Ryan Higgins at 66.3% in 2016. Bachmeier also threw for over 300 yards in two of the final three games of the season.

After suffering a shoulder injury in the team's loss to North Texas on Sept. 16, Bachmeier would sit the next three games as Jack Turner took over starting duties. After a second-half interception by Turner against Middle Tennessee, Bachmeier returned and went on to start the final three games of the season.

During fall camp, Bachmeier expressed excitment about the pairing with head coach and play caller Sonny Cumbie.

"Louisiana Tech, in my eyes, has always been a respectable program. Since I've grown up, they’ve always made a bowl game and have some quarterback success here," Bachmeier said. “Obviously, Coach Cumbie is really well respected in regards to the type of offense he runs and his relationship with Mike Leach, and his run himself at quarterback.”

“Something I was trying to feel out through this whole process was a system a little different than what I had already done. I was going back and forth like, ‘Hey, do I stay in a similar system that I’m familiar with that is an NFL style system, or do I almost experiment and try out this air raid deal and add to the repertoire in a sense of like let’s see if I can do this.’ It was a challenge and help myself grow and you look at guys like a [Bailey] Zappe that did it at Conference USA and I was like, ‘Hey man, why not myself in that kind of system?’”

Before coming to Ruston, Bachmeier was a four-year starter at Boise State who played in 29 games with 6,605 yards, 41 touchdowns and 19 interceptions.

The Bulldogs currently have Jack Turner, Evan Bullock, Blake Baker, Jaden Osborne, and Brendon Strickland on their roster.